Monday, October 27, 2008

Sandra and I made 50 of these treat toppers last night using the Top Note die from Stampin' Up. There are several versions of this little owl out there, but I think I'm partial to this little guy myself!!!

We had a mass production assembly line going on had a real hoot while we worked...I know, I'm corny, what can I say?!? I just love owls, even though I am a non-conformist and owls are super popular these days, I still can't resist them.

These bags are for our neighborhood kids, friends of the family and Maybel's teachers at school. I am also making some treat toppers for the kids in Maybel's class, but I am doing them with digi layouts and printing them off...waaaay less time consuming, and almost as cute...well, maybe not quite as cute...but still... I'll post a picture of those guys as soon as I finish the LO and get them printed and stuffed. For now, I'm bagged and I hear my little one waking up...gotta run!

I love getting mail, both the paper kind (that isn't a bill) and the e- kind. Today I got a package which trumps them both. And inside was this adorable little key chain strap from Laura. How great is it to get something from a friend for no reason other than that they were thinking of you?!? THANK YOU so much Laura!!!!! I love it. In fact, I love it so much that I went straight down to my computer, looked at the etsy shop where they came from, and ordered some as gifts too. {Note: To my friends, don't be surprised if you get one for Christmas...} You can check them out at Sew Much Detail here. I can't believe that it has been over a week since my last post. I feel so incredibly busy, it's not even funny. I have so much pottery to paint and get done before we leave for Georgia, I can hardly see straight. My girlfriend Sheri is going to come and help me do the background painting (the background color, not the artwork or lettering) just so that I can get it all finished. This is the first year that I have not sent out any sort of reminder or e-mail in regards to Christmas orders, and it has by far been the busiest. It is a mixed blessing, seeing as how our house is torn to shambles while building this room for Maybel in the basement. I would post pictures of the progress, but I can't even find my camera right now. All that Shayne has left to do is the baseboards, door, and closet organizer stuff and it will be move in ready. Thank the Lord!

I am also working on getting all of the kits together for the upcoming Advent Calendar class on November the 8th. There has been a very good showing for registration (both for that actual class as well as for the kit for all of those people that can't make it) so if you're interested, you must be registered no later than November 1st. There will be door prizes, food, and lots of fun in addition to the super cute calendar.

Last but certainly not least...Sandra and I had a TOTAL BLAST on our girls' weekend away last week. Her husband was sick the whole weekend while caring for their 3 adorable little ones. We felt bad for him, but not bad enough to stay at home. I have to say, my sweet husband wins the all time best Daddy award!!! Not only did he keep both the girls all weekend without one complaint, he was really excited for me to get away. He was left in charge of picking out a birthday gift for our good friend Daphne's daughter's 5th birthday party as well as taking the girls to the party by himself. They are good friends of ours, so it wasn't a big deal to him, but still, major kudos. None of my friends could believe it! He also wrapped the gift and called me to see if I had made a card for Bailey...just to make sure...I was blown away! Too thoughtful, that Shayne is...

We may or may not have gone over our duty free limit...I'm not sayin'...but we did have a rockin' good time. Isn't that right, Missy P? Well, I'm at least a little caught up on the blog, now if I could just catch up in real life...wishful thinking!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

A layout that I did for the Little Dreamer Designs flower challenge. I have been wanting to do this one for a while now...I just needed this push. I always have so many cute pictures of the girls to scrap, I never take the time to scrap anything about myself...except for the past 2 days...go figure!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. I did this layout to commemorate my very first Thanksgiving here back in 2004. I am thankful for the new traditions that I get to take part in each year, like the Waldos coming in from Moose Jaw. They are friends of the family, but in reality, they are family. They are wonderful people and each time we see them we always have a blast. I am thankful that Shayne's family has allowed me to bring some of my own Thanksgiving traditions, like sweet potato casserole...and we all know that Brauk is thankful for that too. I am thankful for ALL of the good food that we eat and all of the times around the table just being together. Family is so important, and we are blessed!

I am thankful that I will be home in Georgia celebrating American Thanksgiving soon too. It will be the first time since I moved that I will be home for a holiday. We are all so excited.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Here is the info on the Advent Calendar Class that I am teaching in November. The calendar was not my original creation and the one pictured was not made by me...but it will be very similar. We are using the October Afternoon Good Cheer papers seen here, I can't wait.

Pre-registration is required for materials and space...so let me know as soon as you can, but no later than November 1st.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I just got an email from the Dream Team at Little Dreamer Designs informing me that I had won the September blog challenge with my "Your Vocabulary Grows" layout. I won an $8 gift certificate which is awesome, but the honor is truly just in being recognized from such a extremely talented bunch of girls! I am STOKED! Check out the blog here...

My friend Lizzie Lou makes me laugh! We were just talking about how the whole scrapbooking/cardmaking/crafting stuff is like crack to us good girls... We don't spend our money on drugs or bars, but we're SERIOUSLY ADDICTED to scrapping! I am teaching an Altered Tin Class tomorrow night which I guess in essence makes me the dealer, right? I mean, I'm the enabler, the one who's instructing others on how to use these products and making them want more...I know, I'm bad.

I have some super cute pictures to post of the girls at the corn maze on Sunday, I just haven't had time to take them out of the camera yet. We all had such a fun time, although it was a tad bit chilly. Last year we were blazing hot and this year, a little cooler. Nalley was so cute this year, wanting to walk around and explore everything. I think we've found a new fall tradition, always fun at the corn maze.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

I may very well be the only woman in my [southern] family that doesn't can, or at least know how to. I mean canning, or preserving foods, jams, jellies, the like. When I think about it, it is totally a southern thing to do...just like eating biscuits and grits. But I have ALWAYS been scared of it. I can cook a mean meal (when I want to...) and bake some pretty yummy stuff too, but I can't can. Until now, that is...

Yes folks, I made homemade applesauce on Thursday morning, and then I canned it yesterday with the help from my good friend (and Nalley's godmother) Sheri. Can you believe that a good ole' Canadian taught me how to can applesauce?!? Now, I'm totally not taking anything away from Sheri, or any other Canadian, but don't you think it's a little funny that a *Yankee* (I laugh because some rednecks from back home call Shayne a Yankee...they think anyone from above the Mason-Dixon line is a Yankee...cracks me up) taught me how to can food? I know Sheri is just patting herself on the back today, relishing in the fact that she's responsible for my yummy applesauce being all happy and content in their new glass homes. It "ain't" pretty folks, but it's good stuff. And now I don't have to take up all the freezer space for it either...sweet! Here it is y'all...next up apple butter!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

It has long been a fall family tradition to drive up into the North Georgia mountains to the Panorama Apple Barn to bring home some of the finest apples in the world. Our all time favorite variety is the Winesap apple. It is crisp and sweet with a slightly tart edge to it. Perfect for eating, making applesauce or baking. I have missed this tradition every year since I have been in Canada. Although we get to go home fairly regularly, it just never seems to fall at the right time for apple season. School has just started, everyone is getting back into their routines and it's just not a good time to go away....so I always miss it.

My parents called me last Saturday to tell me that they'd made the pilgramage to go and bring home some of my favorite coveted apples. They said they'd thought of me and talked about how much I would love to be going with them...oh how they were right. How funny, as I'm sitting here writing about this tradition, I am almost in tears, sad that I don't get to participate in that tradition any more. Sad that one day (hopefully years from now) my parents will be gone too, and the tradition will be gone as well. Sad that I'm not able to roll up my sleeves in my Grammy's kitchen anymore and bake something yummy from our treasured apples.

I'm writing this post today, because I spent all morning making homemade applesauce from some apples that my sweet neighbor and friend, Lizzie Lou, brought me over yesterday. She came to get a one-on-one digi scrapping lesson and brought me two grocery bags of apples from her brother's tree. How sweet was that! As I made applesauce with my Grammy's old food mill, I thought of how much I have missed her and my PawPaw in the 8 years since they've been gone. (I will write another post on them later) I am so thankful that my mom gave me her old food mill...just being so far from home, that one little thing makes me feel closer.

Tomorrow I will bake some of my famous apple muffins. I have created this recipe from trial and error...it no longer even resembles the original recipe, other than that they both had apples in them. I am proud of this recipe, and love making these muffins for my family, they beg for them and gobble them up...it makes me feel so good to see them enjoying some homemade love. I feel domestically competent again...just every now and then.

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Born & Bred in Georgia, now live in Winterpeg, (Winnipeg) Manitoba. I love all things crafty and creative...and own Magnolia Designs, my outlet for said craftiness. I am a WAHM to Nalley 5, Lawson 3, and the ones I didn't actually birth... Maybel 12, Brady 7, and Kate 5.